Laboratory sample distribution system, laboratory system and method of operating

ABSTRACT

A laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises a plurality of container carriers. The container carriers each comprise at least one magnetically active device such as, for example, at least one permanent magnet, and carry a sample container containing a sample. The system further comprises a transport plane to carry the multiple container carriers and a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane. The electro-magnetic actuators move a container carrier on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the container carrier. The system also comprises at least one transfer device to transfer a sample item, wherein the sample item is a container carrier, a sample container, part of the sample and/or the complete sample, between the transport plane and a laboratory station such as, for example, a pre-analytical, an analytical and/or a post-analytical station.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.15/380,443, filed on Dec. 15, 2016, now allowed, which is a continuationof patent application Ser. No. 14/920,097, filed on Oct. 22, 2015, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,575,086, which is a continuation of patent applicationSer. No. 14/263,002, filed on Apr. 28, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.9,239,335, which is a continuation of PCT/EP2012/071758, filed Nov. 2,2012, which is based on and claims priority to EP 11187982.1, filed Nov.4, 2011, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to a laboratory sampledistribution system, a laboratory system and a corresponding method ofoperation.

Laboratory sample distribution systems are used to distribute samples orspecimens, for example, blood, between various different laboratorystations or specimen-processing instruments, such as pre-analyticalstations, analytical stations and post-analytical stations, of alaboratory system.

In one prior art system, a drive mechanism which operates to advancespecimen-container racks on a surface by producing an X/Y movablemagnetic field below the surface. The movable magnetic field is producedby permanent magnets carried by an X/Y movable magnetic truck assembly.The magnetic field produced by each magnet magnetically couples withmagnetically-attractive members carried in a base portion of eachspecimen-transport rack. The magnetic bond between the magnets andmagnetically-attractive members is sufficiently strong that, as themagnetic truck assembly moves in the X/Y plane, a magnetically-coupledrack follows. Due to mechanical constraints caused by the X/Y movablemagnetic truck assembly independent simultaneous movements of multiplespecimen-transport racks are difficult to implement. Further,specimen-containers can only be moved together in specimen-transportrack quantities.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a laboratory sample distributionsystem, a laboratory system and a method of operating that is highlyflexible and offers a high transport performance.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a laboratory sample distributionsystem and method are presented. The laboratory sample distributionsystem can comprise a plurality of container carriers. Each containercarrier can comprise at least one magnetically active device and cancarry a sample container containing a sample. The system can furthercomprise a transport plane to carry the plurality of container carriersand a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged belowthe transport plane. The plurality of electro-magnetic actuators canmove a container carrier on top of the transport plane by applying amagnetic force to the container carrier. The system can also comprise atleast one transfer device to transfer a sample item between thetransport plane and a laboratory station. The sample item can be acontainer carrier, a sample container, part of the sample and/or thecomplete sample.

Accordingly, it is a feature of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure to provide a laboratory sample distribution system, alaboratory system and a method of operating that is highly flexible andoffers a high transport performance. Other features of the embodimentsof the present disclosure will be apparent in light of the descriptionof the disclosure embodied herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of specific embodiments of thepresent disclosure can be best understood when read in conjunction withthe following drawings, where like structure is indicated with likereference numerals and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a laboratory system comprising a laboratory sampledistribution system having a transport plane formed of multiplesub-planes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view on an exemplary sub-plane shown in FIG. 1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed perspective side view of the sub-planeshown in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a container carrier according to a first embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a container carrier and a correspondingelectro-magnetic actuator according to a second embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a simulated magnetic flux density for the case that acontainer carrier is positioned on top of an electro-magnetic actuatornot being activated and an adjacent electro-magnetic actuator beingactivated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a sub-planecomprising a magnetizable coupling element providing a magnetic couplingbetween adjacent electro-magnetic actuators according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a movement of a container carrier and an activationorder of corresponding electro-magnetic actuators according to a firstembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a movement of a container carrier and an activationorder of corresponding electro-magnetic actuators according to a secondembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates a transfer device according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in whichare shown by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, specificembodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical,mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present disclosure.

A laboratory sample or specimen distribution system can comprise aplurality of container carriers such as, for example about 50 to about500 container carriers. The container carriers cannot be self-powered.The container carriers can comprise at least one magnetically active,i.e. magnetically attractive, device and can carry a single samplecontainer. Further, the system can comprise a two dimensional transportplane or supporting surface, which may be completely planar and cancarry at least part of the container carriers. A plurality ofelectro-magnetic actuators such as, for example about 50 to about 5000electro-magnetic actuators, can be arranged stationary or fixed belowthe transport plane. The electro-magnetic actuators can move a containercarrier on top of the transport plane in at least two differentdirections by applying or causing a magnetic force to the containercarrier, i.e. to the magnetically active device of the containercarrier.

The transport plane can support the container carriers in a way to allowmovement along directions as guided by magnetic forces. Accordingly, thetransport plane can be continuous in at least those directions ofmovements to allow a smooth travel of the container carriers. In orderto allow a flexible transfer of carriers along many lateral directions,a flat transport plane can be an advantage. On a microscopic level, itcan be advantageous to employ a surface with many small protrusions inorder to reduce friction between the transport plane and the bottomsurface of the container carrier.

Further at least one, for example, automatic, transfer device can beprovided to, for example, automatically, transfer or move a sample itembetween the transport plane and a laboratory station. The sample itemcan be a container carrier, a sample container, part of the sampleand/or the complete sample. The term “automatic” can mean that thetransfer can be performed using a process control or control devicecontrolling the necessary devices used for the transfer. In the case ofan automatic transfer, no human or manual interaction may be necessaryfor the transfer. The laboratory station may be a pre-analytical, ananalytical and/or a post-analytical station as typically used inlaboratory systems. An analytical station or analyzer, for example, mayuse the sample or part of the sample and a reagent to generate ameasurable signal based on which the presence or concentration of theanalyte can be determined.

The transfer device can provide an interface between the transport planeand the laboratory station. The transfer device can be arranged suchthat even conventional laboratory stations placed adjacent to thetransport plane can easily interface with the transport plane withoutmodification. The transfer device may, for example, comprise a pickerfor picking the container carrier or the sample container. The pickercan move along predetermined axes such as, for example, along a verticalaxis Z and along a single horizontal axis X or Y. If the laboratorystation operates rack based, i.e. processes samples or sample containersprovided in a sample container rack placed at specific positions, thetransfer device may transfer the sample containers from the transportplane to the sample container rack and vice versa. The transfer devicemay also be incorporated as a pipettor. The pipettor may, for example,take part of the sample contained in a sample container and can transferthis sample to a laboratory station.

The transfer device may be provided separate from the transport planeand the laboratory station, i.e. the transport plane, the transferdevice and the laboratory station may be provided as separate modules ordevices. Alternatively, the transfer device may be part of thelaboratory station.

The transfer device may provide a sample container rack formattingand/or reformatting operation. Formatting can mean that the transferdevice can transfer the sample containers from the transport plane toone or more sample container racks. Reformatting can mean that thetransfer device can transfer the sample containers from one or moresample container racks to container carriers on the transport plane.

Since a sample container can be carried by a corresponding individuallymovable container carrier, the sample containers may be moved over thetransport plane with high flexibility. Together with the transfer deviceperforming a formatting/reformatting operation, the laboratory stationmay operate rack based with optimized throughput.

The sample container racks may have different rack formats. The rackformat can specify amongst others the number of sample containers whichcan be placed in the sample container rack, i.e. the container capacity.

A specific rack format may correspond to a specific laboratory station.The transfer device may adapt to a specific rack format. The transferdevice may determine the rack format, for example, by suitable sensors.After having determined the rack format, the transfer device may performthe formatting/reformatting operation rack format specific, for example,by placing the corresponding number of sample containers into the samplecontainer rack.

The sample containers may be delivered for processing comprised in inputsample container racks which can be placed automatically by acorresponding device or manually at a specific location adjacent to adedicated transfer device. This transfer device may take the samplecontainers from the input sample container rack and place it incorresponding empty container carriers, for example, provided in one ormore buffer areas to store container carriers actually not carrying asample container. After being processed, the sample containers may betransferred to a corresponding output sample container rack by adedicated transfer device. The type of the input sample container rackand the type of the output sample container rack may differ.

The operation of the transfer devices, the operation of the transportplane and the operation of the laboratory stations may be synchronizedas follows. One way to synchronize operations can be to provide datacommunications between the transport plane, the transfer devices and thelaboratory station. The transport plane may signal to the transferdevice that a container carrier can be placed at a specific transferlocation. As a result, the transfer device may signal to thecorresponding laboratory station that a sample container is ready foranalysis. The laboratory station then may signal to the transfer deviceto transfer the sample container to the laboratory station if processingcapacity is available.

The workflow for transferring sample containers from the transport planeto the laboratory stations may also be controlled by a master controldevice in data communication with the transport plane, the transferdevices and the laboratory stations. The data communication may be doneaccording to a predetermined data communication protocol includingsoftware and hardware specification.

Additionally or alternatively, sensors may be provided to signal to thetransfer device that a sample container is ready for transfer, forexample, has reached a transfer location. Such a sensor may be anoptical sensor or a magnet sensor such as, for example, a hall sensor,sensing a container carrier at a specific transfer location on thetransport plane.

Additionally or alternatively, one or more signaling lines may beprovided to synchronize the operation of the transport plane, thetransfer device and the laboratory station.

It may, for example, be possible to fill a sample container rack by thetransfer device. If the sample container rack is completely filled, thetransfer device may signal this condition by a corresponding signalingline to the laboratory station. The laboratory station may then processthis sample container rack.

If the container carrier or the sample container comprises a RFID tag, aRFID reader may detect the presence of the container carrier if thecontainer carrier enters a reading distance of the RFID reader. Also animage processing system including a camera may be provided to determinethe presence of a container carrier/sample container. The imageprocessing system, the sensors and/or the RFID reader may be part of thetransfer device.

According to one embodiment, the transport plane can be fixed to thetransfer device and the transfer device can be fixed to the laboratorystation. This, for example, can be achieved by screwing, by latchingand/or by clamping the items together.

The transfer device may transfer the sample item along at least twoaxes. Due to the highly flexible transport plane capable of moving thecontainer carriers at various different transfer positions, it can bebasically sufficient if the transfer device transfers the sample itemalong only two axes. These axes may, for example, be the Z axis enablingthe transfer in a direction perpendicular to the transport plane, i.e.providing a height movement, and the X- or the Y-axis providing amovement to and/or from the laboratory station.

Due to the flexible transport system, container carriers can be conveyedinto a single transfer location per laboratory station for transferringa sample item to the laboratory station. Accordingly, the transferdevice can be kept simple and can be reduced to operate along only twoaxes.

The transfer device may transfer more than one sample item in parallel,thereby increasing the processing performance.

The transport plane may comprise at least one transfer area locatedadjacent to the at least one transfer device. The transfer area maystore a fixed or variable number of container carriers at differentpositions. The transfer device may, for example, automatically, transferthe sample item between at least one specific transfer location of thetransfer area and the laboratory station. The transfer area may providea dynamic processing queue for a corresponding laboratory station,thereby enabling a flexible load balancing for a specific laboratorystation. The dynamic processing queue may get longer if a large numberof samples have to be processed by the corresponding laboratory stationhaving a limited processing capacity. The non-processed sample carriersor samples can be queued within the transfer area. The number oflocations may be fixed or variable. If the number is variable, the sizeof the transfer area may be dynamically increased in response to thenumber of container carriers waiting for processing.

The transfer area may comprise priority areas. The transfer device maybe arranged to, for example, automatically, transfer the sample itembetween at least one specific priority location of the priority area andthe laboratory station with priority, i.e. with priority compared withsample items of the conventional transfer location. Priority areas canspeed up the handling of emergency samples being distributed between thelaboratory stations, thereby reducing the overall processing time ofemergency samples significantly compared with systems withoutprioritization.

The transport plane may comprise at least one buffer area to storecontainer carriers not carrying a sample container. These emptycontainer carriers located in the buffer area may be filled with samplecontainers comprising samples to be processed. If an empty containercarrier having a container carrier ID is filled with a sample containerhaving a sample container ID, a database storing matching containercarrier IDs and sample container IDs may be updated. The stored matchingbetween the IDs may be checked, for example, before the correspondingsample is analyzed and/or if the sample container is removed from thetransport plane. If the IDs do not match, which may, for example, becaused by manually swapping sample containers, an error may begenerated. This may prevent erroneous analyzing results.

The filling or placing of sample containers in corresponding containercarriers may be done manually or automatically, for example, by acorresponding transfer device picking sample containers out of a samplecontainer rack comprising a number of sample containers to be processed.The sample container rack may be placed manually within an operatingrange of the transfer device.

The system may comprise a container carrier conveyor or conveyor beltsystem functionally coupled to the transport plane, i.e. having atransport gateway to transfer container carriers and/or samplecontainers between the transport plane and the conveyor. The containercarrier conveyor may convey container carriers not being placed on topof the transport plane. The container carrier conveyor may be aconventional transport system, for example, be suited for long distancetransportation of the container carriers. The combination of thetransport plane and the conveyor provides for a flexible distribution ofsamples where necessary and a cost effective, rapid distribution overlong distances. The electro-magnetic actuators may be controlled suchthat a speed of a sample container intended to be transferred from thetransport plane to the conveyer matches with the linear speed of theconveyer.

The system may comprise at least one RFID reader. Each container carriercan comprise a RFID tag storing a unique ID, thereby making anidentification of a specific container carrier easily possible. Thesystem may comprise at least one barcode reader. Each sample containercan carry a barcode representing sample identification. The barcodereader may be in the at least one transfer device.

The transfer device may further comprise a camera for image processing.By use of the barcode reader and/or the camera the transfer device canbe capable of determining features of the sample items provided fortransfer and to use these features in the transfer process. The featuresmay comprise a tube type, a cap type, a fluid level, a sample quality, asample color, sample identification, and the like.

The transfer device may comprise a pick-and-place device. Thepick-and-place device can pick a sample item or a sample container fromthe transport plane and place the sample item or the sample container ina sample container rack. Additionally or alternatively, thepick-and-place device may pick a sample item or a sample container froma sample container rack and place the sample item or sample container ina container carrier placed on the transport plane.

The pick-and-place device may rotate the sample container to enable abarcode reader, for example, part of the transfer device, to read abarcode attached to the sample container. The pick-and-place device maymove a grabber only in a vertical direction (Z) and in one horizontaldirection (X or Y).

The transfer device may comprise at least one conveyor, for example, inthe form of a conveyor belt having a pusher. The conveyor can move asample container rack from a pick-and-place device towards a laboratorystation and/or move a sample container rack from a laboratory stationtowards the pick-and-place device. Such a configuration can make itpossible to use a pick-and-place device moving only in the verticaldirection (and one horizontal direction) since the transport towards thelaboratory station can be done by the conveyor.

The transfer device may comprise a sample container rack storage deviceto store sample container racks. The sample container racks can includea number (for example, about 1 to 128) of sample containers. Such samplecontainer racks can typically be used in laboratory stations operatingrack based. The sample container rack may be filled manually orautomatically, for example, by a corresponding transfer device.

The sample container rack storage device may store sample container racktrays. Each sample container rack tray can store a plurality, forexample, about 2 to 24, of sample container racks.

The sample container rack storage device may comprise a push loadingdrawer. The push loading drawer can have an open and a closed state. Inthe open state, the push loading drawer can be filled with samplecontainer racks and/or sample container rack trays. In the closed state,the push loading drawer may supply sample container racks or samplecontainer rack trays if necessary.

The sample container rack storage device may store sample containerracks or sample container rack trays in at least one storage level belowa transport plane level of the transport plane. The sample containerrack storage device can comprise an elevator device. The elevator devicecan lift a sample container rack or a sample container rack tray fromthe at least one storage level to the transport plane level. Loweringthe storage level below the transport plane level can make it possibleto use the space below the transport plane for storing sample containerracks or a sample container rack trays.

The transfer device may automatically remove a sample container rackfrom the sample container rack storage device, sequentially or inparallel take a plurality (corresponding to the capacity of the samplecontainer rack) of sample containers to be transferred from thetransport plane and insert them into the sample container rack andprovide the sample container rack including the inserted samplecontainers to the laboratory station. Accordingly, the transfer devicemay transfer processed sample containers from the transport plane backinto sample container racks.

The laboratory system can comprise at least one laboratory station suchas, for example, a pre-analytical, an analytical and/or apost-analytical station, and a laboratory sample distribution system.The pre-analytical, analytical and/or a post-analytical stations maycomprise at least one of a decapping station, a recapping station, analiquot station, a centrifugation station, an archiving station, apipetting station, a sorting station, a tube type identificationstation, and a sample quality determining station.

The laboratory system may comprise a memory device storing matchingpairs of a unique ID corresponding to a container carrier and acontainer ID carried by the container carrier making it possible tocontrol and track the path of a sample container over the transportplane.

The method of operating a laboratory system can comprise moving acontainer carrier from a start location to a destination location overthe transport plane by the electro-magnetic actuators, transferring asample item between the destination location and a laboratory stationadjacent to the destination location by the transfer device, andperforming a pre-analytical, an analytical and/or a post-analyticalfunction by the laboratory station. The start location may be a locationon the transport plane which can be intended for importing containercarriers into the laboratory system. These imported container carrierscan carry sample containers comprising samples intended for an analysis.Further, the start location may be a location on which containercarriers can be placed after being served by a station. The destinationlocation may, for example, be located within a transfer area. In otherwords, a container carrier can travel over the transport plane betweenlaboratory stations needed for the intended analysis. By the transferdevice, the sample item can be transferred to the stations. In the caseof sample containers, the transfer device may also transport thecontainer back into a container carrier on the transport plane. Forthis, the same container carrier may be used in which the samplecontainer was located before or a new container carrier may be employed.

The method may further comprise manually or automatically feeding asample container to the laboratory system, determining laboratorystations needed for processing a sample contained in the samplecontainer, moving the sample container to the determined laboratorystations, and processing the sample container and/or the sample by thedetermined laboratory stations. The laboratory stations needed forprocessing may be determined by reading sample information attached tothe sample container. The sample information attached to the samplecontainer may be incorporated in form of a barcode attached to thesample container.

The at least one permanent magnet of the container carrier may beball-shaped, wherein a north pole or a south pole of the ball-shapedpermanent magnet can be directed to the transport plane. In other words,an axis extending through the opposite poles of the ball-shapedpermanent magnet can be perpendicular to the transport plane. A diameterof the ball-shaped permanent magnet may be approximately 12 mm. Theball-shaped permanent magnet can cause an optimized magnetic field ininteraction with the electro-magnetic actuators, for example, comparedwith a bar magnet, resulting in higher magnetic force components in alateral movement direction.

The permanent magnet in conjunction with a ferromagnetic core of acurrently adjacent non-activated electro-magnetic actuator can cause anunwanted magnetic retention force. The retention force can hinder thedesired movement of the container carrier away from the currentlyadjacent non activated electro-magnetic actuator towards an activatedelectro-magnetic actuator. Increasing the distance between the permanentmagnet and the transport plane, i.e. also increasing the distancebetween the permanent magnet and the electro-magnetic actuators, canreduce this magnetic retention force. Unfavorably, an increasingdistance can also lower a desired magnetic transport force in a lateralmovement direction. Therefore, a distance between a center of the atleast one permanent magnet and a bottom surface of the containercarrier, the bottom surface can be in contact with the transport plane,may be selected within a range of about 5 mm to about 50 mm. The givendistance range can provide an optimum between a desired magnetictransport force in movement direction and an unwanted magnetic retentionforce.

The container carriers may comprise a first permanent magnet arranged inthe center of a stand of the container carrier and a second permanentmagnet having a ring shape arranged in the stand surrounding the firstpermanent magnet. This arrangement can provide a high flexibility incausing push and pull magnetic forces, especially if more than oneelectro-magnetic actuator is activated at a given time. The first andsecond permanent magnets may have a reverse polarity, i.e. a south poleof the first permanent magnet and a north pole of the second permanentmay point to the transport plane, or vice versa. The ring shaped secondpermanent magnet may constitute a circular area having a diameter thatcan be less than a distance between axes of electro-magnetic actuatorsof the transport plane.

The container carriers may comprise a RFID tag storing a unique ID. Thiscan enable matching between a sample container ID, for example, abarcode, and the corresponding container carrier. The unique carrier IDcan be read by an optional RFID reader being part of the system andbeing placed at one or more specific locations within the system.

The RFID tag may comprise a ring shaped antenna arranged in a stand ofthe container carrier. This antenna arrangement can make it possible toread the RFID tag by a RFID reader antenna below the transport plane.Thus, the transport plane itself and/or areas above the transport planemay be designed free of any disturbing RFID reader antennas.

A stand of the container carrier can have a circular cross sectionhaving a diameter of approximately 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm. The circular crosssection of the stand can reduce the likelihood of a stand collision ofcontainer carriers moving adjacent in different directions. Compared,for example, with quadratic stands, this can reduce the required safetydistance between adjacent positions and the requirements on positioningaccuracy. Further, the circular stand can improve the self-supporting ofthe container carrier, for example, can prevent that the containerscarrier tilts under normal operating conditions.

The electro-magnetic actuators may comprise a ferromagnetic core guidingand amplifying a magnetic field. The electro-magnetic actuators may havea center finger and four outer fingers, each of the fingers extendingperpendicular to the transport plane. Only the center finger may besurrounded by a coil being driven by an actuating current. Thisarrangement can reduce the number of coils needed for activating theelectro-magnetic actuators. The center finger and the outer fingers caninteract advantageously by providing push and pull forces, respectively,especially if the container carrier comprises a first permanent magnetarranged in the center of the stand and a second permanent magnet havinga ring shape arranged in the stand surrounding the first permanentmagnet.

The system may further comprise a container carrier sensing device tosense the presence and/or position of container carriers located on thetransport plane. The container carrier sensing device can provide for anoptimized tracking of container carriers placed on top of the transportplane.

The container carrier sensing device may be embodied based on infra-red(IR) based reflection light barriers. These light barriers might bearranged in recesses in the transport plane or might be arranged below atransport plane which can at least be partially transparent for theemployed light. In the latter case, a closed transport plane can beprovided which inter alia can be easier to clean.

The electro-magnetic actuators may be arranged in rows and columnsforming a grid or matrix of active transport fields. According to oneembodiment, the rows and columns can have either a first grid dimensiong1 or a second grid dimension g2, wherein g2=2*g1. Adjacent rows andadjacent columns can have different grid dimensions. The grid dimensioncan specify a distance between adjacent or consecutive electro-magneticactuators in a given row or column. In other words, the electro-magneticactuators can be arranged in the form of a grid or matrix. The grid ormatrix can have blank positions representing omitted electro-magneticactuators. This arrangement can consider that diagonal movements of thecontainer carriers may not be necessary to reach a specific destinationon the transport plane, since the specific destination can be reachedbased on movements along the rows and columns. This arrangement of theelectro-magnetic actuators can reduce the number of requiredelectro-magnetic actuators significantly (by, for example, about 33%)compared to having a constant grid dimension. Nevertheless, if adiagonal movement is required, it can be self-evident that the rows andcolumns may be provided having a constant grid dimension, for example,forming a transport plane being divided in active transport fields withequal dimensions.

The transport plane may be divided into multiple sub-planes. Eachsub-plane can have a first outer face, a second outer face, a thirdouter face and a fourth outer face at which further planes can bearranged in a tiling manner to form a transport plane. This approach canoffer the ability to provide transport planes of desired shape. This canbe a big advantage to serve the needs an individual laboratory mighthave due to the laboratory stations present or due to spatialrestraints.

The approach to build the transport plane from sub-planes can becombined with the concept of rows having different grid dimensions toreduce the number of needed electro-magnetic actuators. Sub-planes canbe employed where along the first and the second outer face theelectro-magnetic actuators can be arranged in a first grid dimension g1and along the third and the fourth outer face the electro-magneticactuators can be arranged in a second grid dimension g2, whereing2=2*g1. Multiple sub-planes can be adjacent in a tiling manner to formthe transport plane. Adjacent outer faces of different sub-planes canhave different grid dimensions.

The system may comprise a magnetizable coupling element to provide amagnetic coupling between adjacent electro-magnetic actuators. Due tothe coupling element, the activated electro-magnetic actuator canautomatically cause a magnetic field in the adjacent actuators having aninverse polarization. This can automatically provide respective pull andpush forces even if only a single electro-magnetic actuator isactivated, for example, by a corresponding activating current.

The surface of the container carriers and the surface of the transportplane may be arranged to reduce friction between the surfaces, forexample, by coating the container carriers and/or the transport plane.

The system may comprise a cover profile covering the transport plane,especially covering multiple sub-planes forming the transport plane. Thecover plane can be fluidtight. The cover plane can simplify the cleaningof the transport plane and can avoid disturbing gaps between adjacentsub-planes, when the transport plane is formed of multiple adjacentsub-planes. Further, the cover profile can mitigate height differencesbetween adjacent sub-planes. The cover profile may be just overlying thetransport plane or may be glued to the top surface of the sub planes tostabilize the arrangement and to prevent spacing which would reducemagnetic forces.

A method for the versatile transport of sample containers can beachieved with laboratory sample distribution system comprising aplurality of container carriers. The container carriers can comprise atleast one magnetically active device and can carry a sample container.The laboratory sample distribution system can further comprise atransport plane to carry the container carriers and a plurality ofelectro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transportplane. The electro-magnetic actuators can move a container carrier ontop of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the containercarrier. The method can comprise activating at least one of theelectro-magnetic actuators to apply a magnetic force to a containercarrier within an operating distance of the at least one activatedelectro-magnetic actuator. Activating an electro-magnetic actuator canmean that a magnetic field can be generated by the electro-magneticactuator. Activating may be done by generating a driving current appliedto a coil surrounding a ferromagnetic core.

A speed of a container carrier moving across the transport plane may beset by setting a period between a successive activation of adjacentelectro-magnetic actuators. If this duration is set shorter, the speedcan increase and vice versa. By changing the duration dynamically, acontainer carrier may be accelerated or slowed down.

The electro-magnetic actuators may be activated in response to a sensedposition of the container carrier to be applied with the magnetic force.The electro-magnetic actuators may be activated such that a polarity ofthe generated magnetic field can depend on a position of the containercarrier relative to the electro-magnetic actuator. This can causeposition-depended pull and push forces. In a first position range whenthe container carrier is moving towards the activated electro-magneticactuator, the pull force may attract the container carrier towards theactivated electro-magnetic actuator. In a second position range when thecontainer carrier has traversed the electro-magnetic actuator, the pushforce may push the container carrier away from the activatedelectro-magnetic actuator now generating a magnetic field having anopposite polarity. Additionally, the magnetic field strength may bechanged in response to the sensed position to provide a steady movementof the container carrier. The electro-magnetic actuators may generatemagnetic fields having only a single polarity to simplify the system. Inthis case, the activated electro-magnetic actuator may generate the pullforce in the first position range when the container carrier is movingtowards the activated electro-magnetic actuator. In the second positionrange when the container carrier has traversed the electro-magneticactuator, the electro-magnetic actuator may be deactivated.

For moving a first container carrier along a first transport path, afirst group of electro-magnetic actuators may be activated along thefirst transport path. For independently and at least partiallysimultaneously moving, a second container carrier along a secondtransport path a second group of multiple electro-magnetic actuators maybe activated along the second transport path. The term “simultaneously”can mean that during a certain time interval both the first and thesecond container carrier move. The electro-magnetic actuators of thefirst or the second group may be activated one after the other along therespective transport path. Alternatively, two or more adjacentelectro-magnetic actuators along the respective transport path may beactivated at least partially overlapping in time.

A movement of a container carrier placed on a field on top of a firstelectro-magnetic actuator to an adjacent field on top of a secondelectro-magnetic actuator may comprise activating the first and thesecond electro-magnetic actuator and a third electro-magnetic actuatoradjacent to the first electro-magnetic actuator and opposite to thesecond electro-magnetic actuator and part of the same row or column asthe first and the second electro-magnetic actuators in a predeterminedorder.

If the container carriers comprise a first permanent magnet arranged inthe center of a stand of the container carrier and a second permanentmagnet having a ring shape arranged in the stand surrounding the firstpermanent magnet, the method may further comprise activating the secondelectro-magnetic actuator such that a resulting pull-force regarding thesecond permanent magnet having a ring shape can be generated, andactivating the third electro-magnetic actuator such that a resultingpush-force regarding the second permanent magnet can be generated; aftera predetermined time interval or at a predetermined position of thecontainer carrier, activating the first electro-magnetic actuator suchthat a resulting pull-force regarding the second permanent magnet can begenerated and that a resulting push-force regarding the first permanentmagnet can be generated; and after a second predetermined time intervalor at a second predetermined position of the container carrier:activating the second electro-magnetic actuator such that a resultingpull-force regarding the second permanent magnet can be generated. Amovement between adjacent electro-magnetic actuators can be done in asequence of three activation patterns regarding three adjacentelectro-magnetic actuators. This can lead to a continuous uniformmovement with a high positioning accuracy. The first and second timeinterval or the first and the second position may be determined based ona sensed position of the container carrier provided by the containercarrier sensing device.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 shows a laboratory system 1000comprising pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical stations 22such as, for example, in the form of a decapping station, a recappingstation, an aliquot station, a centrifugation station, an archivingstation, a pipetting station, a labeling station, a sorting station, atube type identification station, an analyzer, and a probe qualitydetermining station; and a laboratory sample distribution system 100.FIG. 1 shows only two exemplary laboratory stations 22, nevertheless itis self-evident that more than two laboratory stations may be provided.

The laboratory sample distribution system 100 can be used to distributesamples or specimens such as, for example, blood samples, containedwithin sample containers 3 between the different laboratory stations 22.

The laboratory sample distribution system 100 can comprise a pluralityof container carriers or Single-Tube-Carriers 1 each carrying acorresponding sample container 3 over a transport plane 4. Multipleelectro-magnetic actuators 5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) can be stationaryarranged below the transport plane 4. Each of the electro-magneticactuators 5 can move a container carrier 1 in operating distance of acorresponding electro-magnetic actuator 5 by applying a magnetic forceto the container carrier 1.

The system can further comprise a barcode reader 31, a RFID reader 32,transfer devices 33 corresponding to the laboratory stations 22 and aconventional belt-driven container carrier conveyor 34 operationallycoupled to the transport plane 4.

The depicted transport plane 4 can be divided into four quadraticsub-planes 23. The sub-planes 23 can be adjacent to one another. Thetransport plane can be covered by an optional cover profile 24. Thecover profile 24 can be fluidtight and can cover gaps and mitigateheight differences between adjacent sub-planes 23. The material of thecover profile 24 can provide a low friction coefficient. The coverprofile 24 may, for example, be a glass plate or a foil of polyethyleneor PTFE (poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene).

The transfer devices 33 can transfer a sample item between the transportplane 4 and a corresponding laboratory station 22. The sample item maybe a container carrier 1 together with a corresponding sample container3, a sample container 3 including the sample, part of the sample or thecomplete sample without the corresponding sample container 3.

Each transfer device 22 can transfer the sample item along at least twoaxes, for example, along the Z-axis and the Y-axis. At least some of thetransfer devices 22 may transfer more than one sample item in parallelto speed up the transfer capacity. The transfer devices 22 may bepick-and-place devices, multi-axis robots having a picker, pipettors,and the like.

Usage of the transfer devices can provide that conventional laboratorydevices can be employed in conjunction with the transport system withoutthe need to re-design existing laboratory devices or to adapt themspecifically to the transport system.

In order to provide processing queues, the transport plane 4 cancomprise transfer areas 27 located adjacent to corresponding transferdevices 22. The transfer areas 27 can store in a one- or two-dimensionalqueue a plurality, for example, about 10 to 20, of container carriers 1.The corresponding transfer device 33 can transfer the sample itembetween at least one specific transfer location 28 within the transferarea 27 and the corresponding laboratory station 22 and vice versa.

In order to provide optimized processing paths for emergency samples,each transfer area 27 can comprise priority areas 29. The correspondingtransfer device 33 can transfer the sample item between a specificpriority location 30 within the priority area 29 and the correspondinglaboratory station 22 with priority, i.e. prior to those sample itemsbeing placed on the non-prioritized transfer-location 28.

In order to handle container carriers not carrying a sample container,the transport plane 4 can comprise a buffer area 37 to store containercarriers 3 not carrying a sample container. Alternatively or inaddition, a buffer unit for unloaded container carriers may be providedwhich can be located adjacent the transport plane. The buffer unit mayhave an in-build transfer mechanism for transferring container carriersfrom the buffer unit onto the transport plane or a transfer device asdescribed above may be used in between the buffer unit and the transportplane.

The RFID reader 32 can be used to interact with RFID tags 9 comprised ineach container carrier 1 (see FIG. 5). The barcode reader 31 can read abarcode (not shown) on the sample containers 3 representing samplecharacteristics. The laboratory system 1000 can comprise a memory deviceas part of a laboratory system control device (not shown) for storingmatching pairs of a unique ID corresponding to a container carrier and abarcode of a sample container carried by the container carrier in orderto track sample containers 3 over the processing path.

The conventional belt-driven container carrier conveyor 34 can befunctionally coupled by a transport gateway 36 to the transport plane 4.The container carrier conveyor 34 can convey container carriers 3 notbeing placed on top of the transport plane 4 in corresponding racks 35.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view on an exemplary sub-plane 23 ofFIG. 1. The sub-plane can have a first outer face 20, a second outerface 21, a third outer face 18 and a fourth outer face 19. Along thefirst and the second outer face 20 and 21, the electro-magneticactuators 5 can be arranged in a first grid dimension g1. Along thethird and the fourth outer face 18 and 19, the electro-magneticactuators 5 can be arranged in a second grid dimension g2, whereing2=2*g1. The grid dimension g1 may, for example, be approximately 20 mm.

The electro-magnetic actuators 5 can be arranged in rows and columns,for example, 16 rows and 16 columns. The rows and columns can haveeither a first grid dimension g1 or a second grid dimension g2, whereing2=2*g1 and adjacent rows can have a different grid dimension andadjacent columns can have a different grid dimension. If a position orfield on the transport plane has to be accessible as a targetdestination, a corresponding electro-magnetic actuator can be providedbelow that target destination. If a specific field or area has not to beaccessible, an electro-magnetic actuator may be omitted at thatposition.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed perspective side view of the sub plane 23 shownin FIG. 2. As illustrated, each electro-magnetic actuator 5 can be fixedon a carrier plate 26 and can comprise a ferro-magnetic cylindrical core5 a extending substantially perpendicular to the transport plane 4. Acoil 5 b can surround the ferro-magnetic cylindrical core 5 a. The coil5 b can be applied with an actuating current provided by a driver unit(not shown) over electrical contacts 5 c. If driven by an actuatingcurrent, each electro-magnetic actuator 5 can generate a magnetic field.When this field interacts with a permanent magnet 2 (see FIG. 4)arranged in the container carrier 1, it can provide a driving forcemoving the container carrier 1 along the transport plane 4. Theferro-magnetic cylindrical core 5 a can bundle and amplify the magneticfield generated by the coil 5 b.

In the most simple form, each container carrier 1 may be exposed to adriving force generated by a single activated electro-magnetic actuator5 proximate to the corresponding container carrier 1 thereby pulling thecontainer carrier 1 towards the activated electro-magnetic actuator 5.Further, it can be possible to superpose push and pull driving forces ofmultiple electro-magnetic actuators 5 proximate to the correspondingcontainer carrier 1. Further, it can be possible to activate multipleelectro-magnetic actuators 5 at the same time to move multiple differentcontainer carriers 1 independent of each other along predetermined pathsover the transport plane 4.

In order to sense the presence and position of container carriers 1located on the transport plane 4, a container carrier sensing device canbe provided. One embodiment can comprise a printed circuit board 25having multiple IR based reflection light barriers 17 arranged in a gridon top as shown in FIG. 3. The IR based reflection light barriers 17 candetect container carriers 1 placed on top of a corresponding lightbarrier 17 since the container carriers 1 can be arranged to reflect IRradiation emitted by the light barriers 17. If no container carrier ispresent, no reflected IR light can get into the IR sensor of acorresponding light barrier 17.

FIG. 4 shows a container carrier 1 according to a first embodiment. Thecontainer carrier 1 can comprise a ball-shaped permanent magnet 2. Adistance 1 between a center of the at least one permanent magnet 2 and abottom surface 8 a of the container carrier and can lie within a rangeof about 5 mm to about 50 mm and may be approximately 12 mm. The bottomsurface 8 a can be in contact with the transport plane 4.

The permanent magnet 2 may be made from hard ferromagnetic materials.These can include, for example, iron ore (magnetite or lodestone),cobalt and nickel, as well as the rare earth metals. A north pole N ofthe permanent magnet 2 can be directed towards the transport plane.

A stand 8 of the container carrier can have a circular cross sectionhaving a diameter of approximately 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm coveringapproximately five electro-magnetic actuators 5 if positioned in thecenter of a cross formed by the five electro-magnetic actuators 5. Theelectro-magnetic actuator in the center of the cross can be fullycovered. The four outer electro-magnetic actuators can be nearly coveredby half. Due to this, two carriers moving on adjacent tracks can pass byeach other without collision. On the other hand, the footprint can belarge enough to provide a smooth transport without much tilting.Accordingly, container carriers may have an optimized circular bottomsurface 8 a with a radius being about 5 to 30% smaller than the griddistance of the transport plane.

The container carriers may comprise a sample container fixer which may,for example, be incorporated in form of flexible flat spring 43. Theflexible flat spring 43 can be arranged at the side wall of thecylindrical opening of the container carrier 3. The flexible flat spring43 can safely fix the sample container 3 within the container carrier 1even if the sample container 3 has a smaller diameter than thecorresponding opening.

If different sample container types are used, for example, havingdifferent form factors, it can even be possible to provide specificcontainer carriers with different inner diameters corresponding torespective sample container types.

FIG. 5 shows a container carrier 1′ according to a second embodimenthaving a different magnet arrangement and a correspondingelectro-magnetic actuator 5′. The container carrier 1′ can comprise afirst permanent magnet 6 arranged in the center of a stand 8 of thecontainer carrier 1′ and a second permanent magnet 7 having a ring shapearranged in the stand 8 surrounding the first permanent magnet 6. Thepermanent magnets 6 and 7 can have a reverse polarity. A north pole ofthe center permanent magnet 6 and a south pole of the ring shapedpermanent magnet 7 can be directed towards the transport plane 4.

Further, the container carrier 1′ can comprise a RFID tag 9 storing aunique ID corresponding to a specific container carrier. The RFID tag 9can comprise a ring shaped antenna 10 which can be arranged in the stand8 of the container carrier 1′ between the first and the second permanentmagnet 6 and 7.

The corresponding electro-magnetic actuator 5′ can comprise aferromagnetic core having a center finger 11 and four outer fingers 12,13, 14, and 15. Each of the fingers can extend perpendicular to thetransport plane 4. Only the center finger 11 can be surrounded by a coil16 driven by an actuating current Ia. This arrangement can reduce thenumber of coils needed for activating the electro-magnetic actuator 5′compared with the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, wherein the center finger11 and the outer fingers 12 to 15 interact advantageously by providingpush and pull forces, respectively, especially if the container carrier1′ is arranged as shown.

FIG. 6 schematically shows a simulated magnetic flux density B for thecase that a container carrier as depicted in FIG. 4 is positioned on topof an electro-magnetic actuator 5_2 not being activated and an adjacentelectro-magnetic actuator 5_3 being activated. Different flux densitiesB are represented by corresponding hachures. As shown, the ball shapedpermanent magnet 2 in conjunction with a ferromagnetic core of thenon-activated electro-magnetic actuator 5_2 can cause an unwantedmagnetic retention force F2 pulling the permanent magnet 2 towards theferromagnetic core of the non-activated electro-magnetic actuator 5_2,thereby causing an unwanted force-component in opposite direction of thedesired movement and additionally increasing friction between thecorresponding surfaces of the transport plane and the stand. Theactivated electro-magnetic actuator 5_3 can generate a force F1.

In order to reduce these unwanted effects, it can be possible togenerate an opposing magnetic field by reversely activating theelectro-magnetic actuator 5_2 pushing the container carrier therebyreducing friction. Alternatively or additionally, it can be possible tochoose an optimized distance between the permanent magnet 2 and thetransport plane, see also the description regarding FIG. 4.

Nevertheless, the magnetic forces in a desired movement direction usinga ball-shaped permanent magnet 2 can be higher compared to a bar magnet.A bar magnet bundles the magnetic field in one direction such that thelateral field density is low. Accordingly, the lateral forces which areneeded for a lateral transport can be relatively low while the unwantedretention forces can be comparatively high. In the case of a ball shapedmagnet, the magnetic field can be less bundled and the lateral fielddensity can be similar to the field density in direction of thetransport plane. Accordingly, higher lateral forces can be generated andunwanted retention forces can be lower.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of an embodiment of a sub-plane comprising amagnetizable coupling element 27 providing a magnetic coupling betweenadjacent electro-magnetic actuators 5. As shown, only theelectro-magnetic actuator 5_3 can be activated by driving thecorresponding coil with a driving current and can cause a magnetic flowguided by the coupling element 27 and extending in the ferromagneticcores of the non-activated electro-magnetic actuators 5_2 and 5_3. As aresult, a magnetic push force can be generated by the electro-magneticactuator 5_2 in interaction with the permanent magnet 2 reducingfriction and superimposing in the desired direction with a pull forcegenerated by the activated electro-magnetic actuators 5_3.

FIG. 8 shows a movement of a container carrier 1 and an activation orderof corresponding electro-magnetic actuators 5_1 to 5_5 according to afirst embodiment. As shown, at time t=0 only the electro-magneticactuator 5_2 can be activated such that it can generate a pull forcemoving the container carrier 1 in the shown direction.

At time t=1, the container carrier 1 has moved such that it can resideon top of the electro-magnetic actuator 5_2, what, for example, can besensed by the container carrier sensing device. In order to continue themovement, electro-magnetic actuator 5_2 can be deactivated andelectro-magnetic actuator 5_3 can be activated, thereby pulling thecontainer carrier 1 forward.

At time t=2, the container carrier 1 has moved such that it can resideon top of the electro-magnetic actuator 5_3. In order to continue themovement, electro-magnetic actuator 5_3 can be deactivated andelectro-magnetic actuator 5_4 can be activated, thereby pulling thecontainer carrier 1 forward.

The above steps can be repeated as long as a movement is desired.Concluding, a group of multiple electro-magnetic actuators 5_1 to 5_5along a transport path can be sequentially activate, to move thecontainer carrier 1 along the first transport path.

Since the electro-magnetic actuators 5 can be activated independently,it can be possible to independently and simultaneously move a pluralityof different container carriers 1 along different paths whereinself-evidently collisions have to be avoided.

FIG. 9 shows a movement of a container carrier 1′ and an activationorder of corresponding electro-magnetic actuators 5_1 to 5_3 accordingto a second embodiment. FIG. 5 shows the container carrier 1′ in moredetail. In the shown embodiment, a movement of the container carrier 1′placed on a first electro-magnetic actuator 5_2 to an adjacent secondelectro-magnetic actuator 5_3 can comprise activating the first and thesecond electro-magnetic actuators 5_2 and 5_3 and a thirdelectro-magnetic actuator 5_1 adjacent to the first electro-magneticactuator 5_2 in a specific order and polarity. The electro-magneticactuators 5_1 to 5_3 can be part of the same row or column and can beactivated generating a south-pole (S) or a north-pole (N) pointingtowards the container carrier F.

In a first step at t=0, the second electro-magnetic actuator 5_3 can beactivated such that a resulting pull-force regarding the secondpermanent magnet 7 having a ring shape can be generated and the thirdelectro-magnetic actuator 5_1 can be activated such that a resultingpush-force regarding the second permanent magnet 7 can be generated.

After the container carrier 1′ reaches a first predetermined position attime t=1, what, for example, can be sensed by the container carriersensing device, the second and third electro-magnetic actuators 5_1 and5_3 can be deactivated and the first electro-magnetic actuator 5_2 canbe activated such that a resulting pull-force regarding the secondpermanent magnet 7 can be generated and that a resulting push-forceregarding the first permanent magnet 6 can be generated.

After the container carrier 1′ reaches a second predetermined positionat time t=2, the first and the third electro-magnetic actuators 5_1 and5_2 can be deactivated and the second electro-magnetic actuator 5_3 canbe activated such that a resulting pull-force regarding the secondpermanent magnet 7 can be generated.

In one embodiment, a movement between adjacent electro-magneticactuators 5_2 and 5_3 can be performed in a sequence of three activationpatterns regarding three adjacent electro-magnetic actuators 5_1 to 5_3.This can lead to a continuous uniform smooth movement with a highpositioning accuracy.

FIG. 10 shows a transfer device 33. The transfer device 33 may bearranged adjacent to or partially on top of the transport plane 4(partially overlapping) and adjacent to a laboratory station 22 (seealso FIG. 1). The transfer device 33 can comprise a pick-and-placedevice 42 movable in a vertical direction (Z direction) and a horizontaldirection (X direction and/or Y direction). Further, the transfer device33 may rotate the sample container 3 along a vertical axis. The transferdevice 33 may further pick or grab the sample container 3 only on asample container body avoiding picking a sample container cap.

The pick-and-place device 42 can pick a sample container 3 from acontainer carrier 1 placed on the transport plane 4 and can place thesample container 3 in a sample container rack 35 in a formattingoperation. In a reformatting operation, the pick-and-place device 42 canpick a sample container 3 from a sample container rack 35 and can placethe sample container 3 in an empty container carrier 1 placed on thetransport plane 4.

The transfer device 33 can comprise a first and a second conveyor belt41 to move a sample container rack 35 from a formatting position belowthe pick-and-place device 42 towards a laboratory station 22 and to movethe sample container rack 35 from the laboratory station 22 towards areformatting position under the pick-and-place device 42.

The transfer device 33 can comprise a sample container rack storagedevice 38 to store sample container racks 35 in sample container racktrays 40.

The sample container rack storage device 38 can comprise a push loadingdrawer. The push loading drawer can have an open and a closed state. Inthe open state, the push loading drawer can be filled with samplecontainer rack trays 40. The sample container rack storage device 38 canstore sample container rack trays 40 in three different storage levelsbelow a transport plane level of the transport plane 4. The samplecontainer rack storage device 38 can comprise an elevator device 39. Theelevator device 39 can lift a sample container rack 35 from one of thestorage levels to the transport plane level.

In the closed state, the push loading drawer can supply sample containerrack trays to the elevator device 39. The elevator device 39 cansequentially remove sample container racks 35 from the sample containerrack tray and can sequentially lift the sample container racks 35 to thetransport plane level.

Concluding, the transfer device 33 can remove a sample container rack 35from the sample container rack storage device 38, can (sequentially)take a plurality of sample containers 3 to be transferred from thetransport plane 4 and can insert them into the sample container rack 35.After the sample container rack 35 is filled, the sample container rack35 including the inserted sample containers can be transferred to thelaboratory station 22 by the first conveyor belt 41.

After being processed, the laboratory station can output the samplecontainer rack 35. The sample container rack 35 can then be transferredto the pick-and-place device 42 by the second conveyor belt 41.

Finally, the pick-and-place device 42 can transfer the sample containers3 back into corresponding container carriers 1 placed under thepick-and-place device 42 on top of the transport plane 4.

Having described the present disclosure in detail and by reference tospecific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications andvariations are possible without departing from the scope of thedisclosure defined in the appended claims. More specifically, althoughsome aspects of the present disclosure are identified herein aspreferred or particularly advantageous, it is contemplated that thepresent disclosure is not necessarily limited to these preferred aspectsof the disclosure.

We claim:
 1. A laboratory sample distribution system, the laboratorysample distribution system comprising: a plurality of containercarriers, at least one container carrier of the plurality of containercarriers having a sample container containing a sample, wherein the atleast one container carrier comprises at least one magnetically activedevice; a transport plane to carry the plurality of container carriers;a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below thetransport plane, wherein the plurality of electro-magnetic actuatorsmoves a container carrier on top of the transport plane by applying amagnetic force to the container carrier and wherein the plurality ofelectro-magnetic actuators moves the container carrier from a startlocation to a destination location; and at least one transfer devicearranged to transfer a sample item between a transfer location on thetransport plane and a laboratory station, wherein the transport planecomprises at least one transfer area located adjacent to the at leastone transfer device, wherein the transfer location is located inside thetransfer area, wherein a size of the transfer area is dynamicallychanged in response to a number of container carriers waiting forprocessing by the laboratory station.
 2. The laboratory sampledistribution system according to claim 1, wherein the at least onetransfer device comprises a camera for determining features of thesample item being provided for transfer.
 3. The laboratory sampledistribution system according to claim 2, wherein the determiningfeatures comprise tube type, cap type, fluid level, sample quality,sample color, sample identification, and combinations thereof.
 4. Thelaboratory sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein theat least one transfer device transfers more than one sample item inparallel.
 5. The laboratory sample distribution system according toclaim 1, further comprises, a sensor to signal the transfer device thata sample container is ready for transfer.
 6. The laboratory sampledistribution system according to claim 5, wherein the sensor is anoptical sensor.
 7. The laboratory sample distribution system accordingto claim 5, wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor.
 8. The laboratorysample distribution system according to claim 7, wherein the magneticsensor is a hall sensor.
 9. The laboratory sample distribution systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the transport plane comprises microscopicprotrusions.
 10. The laboratory sample distribution system according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one transfer area can store the number ofcontainer carriers.
 11. The laboratory sample distribution systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one transfer area can storeten to twenty container carriers.
 12. A laboratory sample distributionsystem, the laboratory sample distribution system comprising: aplurality of container carriers, at least one container carrier having asample container containing a sample, wherein the at least one containercarrier comprises at least one magnetically active device; a transportplane to carry the plurality of container carriers; a plurality ofelectro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transportplane, wherein the plurality of electro-magnetic actuators moves acontainer carrier on top of the transport plane by applying a magneticforce to the container carrier and wherein the plurality ofelectro-magnetic actuators moves the container carrier from a startlocation to a destination location; and at least one transfer devicearranged to transfer a sample container carried by a container carrieron the transport plane to a sample container rack used by a laboratorystation in a formatting operation and/or to transfer a sample containerfrom a sample container rack used by the laboratory station to acontainer carrier on the transport plane in a reformatting operation,wherein the at least one transport device comprises a sensor fordetermining a rack format of the sample container rack, wherein thetransfer device is adapted to perform the formatting operation and/orthe reformatting operation rack format specific.
 13. The laboratorysample distribution system according to claim 12, wherein the pluralityof container carriers comprises between 50 to 500 container carriers.14. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 12,wherein the plurality of electro-magnetic actuators comprises between 50to 500 electro-magnetic actuators.
 15. The laboratory sampledistribution system according to claim 12, wherein the transfer devicecomprises a sample container rack storage device to store samplecontainer racks in sample container rack trays.
 16. The laboratorysample distribution system according to claim 12, further comprises, amemory device for storing matching pairs of a unique ID corresponding toa container carrier and a container ID carried by the container carrier.17. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 12,wherein the at least one magnetically active device is a permanentmagnet.
 18. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim17, wherein the permanent magnet is bell-shaped.
 19. The laboratorysample distribution system according to claim 12, wherein the at leastone container carrier comprises a sample container fixer.
 20. Thelaboratory sample distribution system according to claim 19, wherein thesample container fixer is a flexible flat spring.